Methods and apparatus of media device detection for minimally invasive media meters

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for media crediting and, more particularly, methods and apparatus of media device detection for minimally invasive media meters. An example apparatus disclosed herein to detect media devices presenting media includes means for generating a cluster of media locations from a reference population of media locations based on media identifying information received from a presentation of media at an unidentified media device at a first media location, means for determining media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations, means for identifying the unidentified media device based on (1) the media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations and (2) an identity of a media device determined to be available in a majority of media locations in the cluster of media locations, and means for generating a report on the identity of the unidentified media device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus to detect media devices presenting media, the apparatus comprising:
 means for generating a cluster of media locations from a reference population of media locations based on media identifying information received from a presentation of media at an unidentified media device at a first media location; 
 means for determining media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations; 
 means for identifying the unidentified media device based on (1) the media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations and (2) an identity of a media device determined to be available in a majority of media locations in the cluster of media locations; and 
 means for generating a report on the identity of the unidentified media device. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a means for monitoring at the first media location is a minimally invasive media meter that does not include a direct connection to the unidentified media device. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the reference population of media locations includes at least one media location with a minimally invasive media meter. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the identity of the unidentified media device cannot be directly determined from the media identifying information received from the presentation of media. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for generating includes comparing the media identifying information received at a media location of the reference population of media locations and the first media location. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the means for generating includes adding the media location of the reference population to the cluster of media locations when media identifying information received at the media location matches the first media location. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the identity of the unidentified media device is credited via a media credit generated for the media presentation. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus to detect media devices presenting media, the apparatus comprising:
 means for generating a cluster of media locations based on media identifying information received from a presentation of media at an unidentified media device; 
 means for determining media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations; and 
 means for identifying the unidentified media device based on (1) the media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations and (2) an identity of a media device determined to be available in a majority of media locations in the cluster of media locations. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the means for generating includes generating the cluster of media locations from a reference population of media locations. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the reference population of media locations includes at least one media location with a minimally invasive media meter. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the unidentified media device is at a first media location. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a media meter at the first media location is a minimally invasive media meter that does not include a direct connection to the unidentified media device. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein an identity of the unidentified media device cannot be directly determined from the media identifying information received from the presentation of media. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the means for generating further includes:
 comparing the media identifying information received at a media location of a reference population of media locations and a first media location of the unidentified media device; and 
 adding the media location of the reference population to the cluster of media locations when media identifying information received at the media location matches the first media location. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein an identity of the unidentified media device is credited via a media credit generated for the presentation of media. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus to detect media devices presenting media, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one memory; 
 instructions in the apparatus; and 
 processor circuitry to execute the instructions to:
 generate a cluster of media locations from a reference population of media locations based on media identifying information received from a presentation of media at an unidentified media device at a first media location; 
 determine media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations; 
 identify the unidentified media device based on (1) the media devices available at the media locations in the cluster of media locations and (2) an identity of a media device determined to be available in a majority of media locations in the cluster of media locations; and 
 generate a report on the identity of the unidentified media device. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a media meter at the first media location is a minimally invasive media meter that does not include a direct connection to the unidentified media device. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the reference population of media locations includes at least one media location with a minimally invasive media meter. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the identity of the unidentified media device cannot be directly determined from the media identifying information received from the presentation of media. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor circuitry is further to:
 compare the media identifying information received at a media location of the reference population of media locations and the first media location; and 
 add the media location of the reference population to the cluster of media locations when media identifying information received at the media location matches the first media location.